Attorneys, judge attend pretrial conference in Wilbros case

TOCCOA — Judge Robert Adamson continues to push both sides in the Wilbros civil case to reach a settlement without going to trial.

The judge met with attorneys for both sides at a pretrial conference Tuesday in Stephens County Superior Court.

Stephens County, the city of Toccoa, the Stephens County School System, and the Concerned Citizens of Toccoa-Stephens County group are suing Wilbros and associated defendants regarding the odor coming from the Wilbros facility on Rose Lane in the county.

Calling himself an eternal optimist, Adamson said he believes a settlement is more productive than litigation, especially in a case such as the lawsuit against Wilbros.

The judge ordered attorneys and experts for both sides to meet in the next 10 days. Adamson has scheduled a trial to begin May 21 in Stephens County Superior Court if no settlement is reached.

At the hearing Tuesday, Wilbros attorney Steven Gilliam raised concerns about seating a jury for a trial, saying that would be difficult to do in Stephens County considering the attention the case has received. He also raised a number of legal questions about the claims of trespass, negligence per se and nuisance made by the plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs’ attorney, Don Stack, disputed a number of Gilliam’s arguments.

Adamson and the attorneys agreed to a jury selection process.

The judge also ordered both sides to file briefs with him regarding the issues raised by Gilliam and any other issues the two sides may have regarding the potential trial.

Adamson ordered all pretrial briefs to be filed by May 17, with May 20 set aside for the parties to address any loose ends that need to be dealt with before trial.